In Their Words | A Daily Press Exclusive

October 31, 2006

QUESTION: "Do you favor any changes in gun ownership laws? If so, what would you change?"

U.S. SENATE

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN REPUBLICAN, INCUMBENT

I have a long and consistent record of supporting the rights of Americans to protect their families and themselves. I remain committed to protecting our Second Amendment rights, including that of law-abiding citizens to own firearms.

As governor of Virginia, I signed into law the commonwealth's right-to-carry law. In the Senate, I sponsored the "Law Enforcement Officer's Safety Act," now law, which allows current and retired law enforcement officers to conceal-carry (firearms) across state lines. This legislation was strongly supported by law enforcement organizations. I also introduced right-to-carry reciprocity legislation that would allow individuals with concealed-carry permits to carry in other states, in accordance with that state's laws. I am proud to have the support of the National Rifle Association.

JIM WEBB DEMOCRAT

I do not support new gun control laws. I support the Second Amendment. My father gave me my first gun when I was 8 years old, and we began hunting together. I then passed that tradition on to my own kids when they reached that age.

2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

REP. THELMA DRAKE REPUBLICAN, INCUMBENT

I am opposed to lawsuits to blame legitimate companies for violence committed by criminals. I also believe in reciprocity between states that have concealed-carry laws. I do not believe that the government should have the power to confiscate weapons en masse, such as in the wake of a natural disaster.

PHIL KELLAM DEMOCRAT

I am a strong supporter and advocate of the Second Amendment. It is a fundamental and basic right guaranteed by the Constitution. Opposition and threats to the Second Amendment should be rejected. I believe that gun owners must be trained and use guns safely. Current gun laws deserve stronger enforcement to ensure rights of sportsmen and gun owners. I favor no new restrictions on lawful gun ownership. *

QUESTION: "Do you favor a constitutional ban on flag burning? Allowing prayer in public schools? Prohibiting the courts from ruling on any lawsuits brought involving the Pledge of Allegiance?"

U.S. SENATE

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN REPUBLICAN, INCUMBENT

I am a sponsor of the flag-desecration resolution, which proposes an amendment to the Constitution to authorize Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag. The flag transcends our political differences and unites us as Americans; therefore, it deserves our honor and respect. The burning or desecration of the American flag does great harm to our national character and degrades the principles that the flag represents -- freedom, liberty and representative democracy, as well as those who fought and died for those principles.

I was also the lead Republican sponsor of a proposed amendment to the Constitution to protect the reference to God on U.S. currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance. I am a sponsor of a resolution that passed the Senate expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance and the phrase "under God."

The fact that a judge can ignore the will of the people and strike down the Pledge of Allegiance because of the words "under God" illustrates why we need judges that understand that their role and responsibility is to apply the law, not invent the law. Judges striking down prayer in schools is another example of judicial activism.

In America, the will and values of the people should be determined by the people and their elected representatives, not unelected judges who legislate from the bench.

JIM WEBB DEMOCRAT

I believe these issues are just more examples of the deliberately divisive politics that distract us from the real issues facing our country. As a veteran and former secretary of the Navy, I have a great respect for our flag and great respect for our Constitution. I'm proud of the contributions that my family has made to the defense of both. Like many combat veterans such as Gen. Colin Powell and former Sens. John Glenn and Bob Kerrey, I do not believe it is necessary to amend the Constitution in order to protect the dignity of our flag.

These issues are being used as distractions in typical Karl Rove fashion. America is at war in Iraq, and we are engaged in a struggle against international terrorism. Wages are at an all-time low as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product), and health care costs have increased 76 percent since George Bush and George Allen took office. I have been talking about these issues since I entered the race, and these are the issues voters want to hear about.